McGhee's Bakery, a fourth-generation Glasgow-based operation approaching its 90th year, has appointed two employees under 30 to senior leadership positions as part of its internal talent development strategy.

Jessica Richmond, 28, has been named Group Head of HR, whilst Gordon Moon, 27, takes up the position of Head of Engineering. The appointments coincide with sustained business expansion that has seen the company's turnover increase from £34 million to £53.7 million over five years.

Internal Development Model

The promotions form part of a broader pattern at the 500-employee operation. The bakery previously elevated Aisling McGhee, 35, to Commercial Director and Russell McGhee, 32, to Operations Director, both having joined the business in their twenties.

Richmond joined McGhee's on work placement in January 2020 with a master's degree in HR. She entered a single-person HR department and has overseen its expansion during a period when the company implemented new systems to support continued growth.

"Because there was so much going on, I was thrown in at the deep end. It was without a doubt the best way to learn,"

She noted the family business prioritises commitment and work ethic over age when making advancement decisions.

Engineering Leadership Transition

Moon joined the bakery in May 2024 as a bakery engineer, progressing to Head of Engineering 13 months later. He manages a seven-person team maintaining production equipment across multiple sites operating continuous production.

Having begun his career through an apprenticeship, Moon referenced the variety of machinery across different production lines as a factor in the role's complexity. He observed that senior management maintains consistent floor presence, which influences team performance standards.

Growth Metrics and Market Position

The Port Dundas facility produces morning rolls, potato scones, pancakes, doughnuts and empire biscuits for distribution across Scotland. In 2025, Worldpanel by Numerator's Scotland Brand Footprint rankings placed McGhee's as Scotland's most chosen food brand overall and second among Scottish food and drink brands specifically.

Last year's turnover of £53.7 million represented growth exceeding 10% year-on-year.

Succession Planning Approach

Commercial Director Aisling McGhee, a chartered accountant who joined at 28, explained the operational model:

"As a family business, we don't have the kind of structured graduate schemes or clearly defined career ladders you'd find in large corporations, so we have to think differently about how we attract and retain talented people.

"That means placing a real emphasis on trust and opportunity. By giving people meaningful responsibility early on, we allow them to grow with the business and develop a genuine sense of ownership."

Managing Director Gordon McGhee stated the appointments reflect the business's assessment of capability rather than demographic factors, noting that workforce quality has underpinned the company's nine-decade operation.

The bakery was established in 1936 and remains under family ownership whilst maintaining distribution to retail, foodservice and hospitality channels throughout the UK.